Roberta Kaplan Special Event

Registration

Roberta Kaplan Event – $20.00

Sunday, December 13 at 4:00pm

Roberta Kaplan w/Book – $38.00

Registration w/book included is at a 35% discount from the cover price.

Registration is closed

On Sunday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m., Shir Tikvah has the pleasure of welcoming esteemed attorney Roberta (Robbie) Kaplan in a discussion and unveiling of her just-released bookThen Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA, about the landmark ruling, in which she was the case’s chief architect.

Introduction by Senator Al Franken

General admission tickets ($20 each) will be available to Shir Tikvah members and to the general public. Proceeds will underwrite Robbie’s visit and support the ongoing social justice work of Shir Tikvah. Books will be made available at a substantial discount of $18 (cover price $27.95)

Why is she coming to Shir Tikvah?

This is personal for our Rabbi and his partner . . . When they moved to Minnesota together, they worried about Michael Simon’s ability to remain with their family due to his Canadian citizenship. Without legal protections afforded by marriage, his immigration status was fully dependent upon his job. When his company was sold, they worried.

This was personal for the congregation, as well. Shir Tikvah was the first faith community to organize and state unequivocally in June 2011 that the marriage inequality amendment assaulted our deeply-held religious beliefs! Minnesota then defeated the constitutional amendment in 2012 and passed marriage equality into law in May 2013. Finally, in June, the US Supreme Court decided in favor of Windsor vs. United States.

Robbie Kaplan’s argument at the Supreme Court was personal for Rabbi, Michael and their daughters, because they were now able to obtain Michael’s green card through legal marriage, like every other spouse can. Their family would be OK. Their long, worrisome journey had come to a joyful end.

When you hear Robbie’s personal story it will resonate. It’s a story of a Jewish woman who has not only professionally wrestled with America’s highest court of justice, but was then struggling with her own coming out as a lesbian.

This is personal for everyone who helped lead the way to make our families safer, our state stronger, and our nation a bit more just. Let’s come together, on the last day of Chanukah, for this very special program. As we kindle lights amidst the darkness, we will rededicate ourselves to our sacred work for justice and human dignity.

You inspire us with your generous and visionary support of social justice initiatives. Please join us as event hosts to support Shir Tikvah’s continued social justice efforts.